High volume, rapid release discharge valve

ABSTRACT

This invention is a rapid release discharge valve operable to open under differential pressure to expose a discharge opening therethrough for the rapid release of high volume, low-pressure fluid therethrough. More particularly, this invention is a discharge valve having a main housing means; a piston assembly mounted within the housing means to open and close a discharge channel therethrough; and a pressure fluid release opening in the housing means on one side of the piston assembly whereby the discharge valve is operable to immediately move from a closed condition to a fully open condition on variation of fluid pressure on opposite sides of the piston assembly.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Jack W. Kice;

Herbert D. Vanderlip, Wichita, Kans.

[2]] Appl. No. 752,079

[22] Filed Aug. 12, 1968 [45 1 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 [73] AssigneesJack W. Kice doing business as K-B Engineering Company. by mesneassignments; Russell W. Kice doing business as K-B Engineering Company.by mesne assignments; James V. Kice, doing business as K-B EngineeringCompany. by mesne assignments Continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 730,480, May 20, 1968, now Patent No. 3,521,430.

[54] HIGH VOLUME, RAPID RELEASE DISCHARGE VALVE 8 Claims, 4 DrawingFigs.

[52] 11.8. CI 137/4893 [51] lnt.Cl. F16k 31/38 [50] Field ofSearch137/491, 489.3, 513.5; 251/22, 45, 61, 62, 293, 285, 46, 625.6, 43, 44,50,31

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,250,388 12/1917 Titus251/36 1,791,613 7 2/1931 Clay..... 251/31 2,005,266 6/1935 Ray 251/452,308,235 l/1943 Fields 251/31 Primary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson AssistantExaminer-R. B. Rothman Attorney-John H. Widdowson ABSTRACT: Thisinvention is a rapid release discharge valve operable to open underdifferential pressure to expose a A discharge opening therethrough forthe rapid release of high volume, low-pressure fluid therethrough. Moreparticularly, this invention is a discharge valve having a main housingmeans; a piston assembly mounted within the housing means to open andclose a discharge channel therethrough; and a pressure fluid releaseopening in the housing means on one side of the piston assembly wherebythe discharge valve is operable to immediately move from a closedcondition to a fully open condition on variation of fluid pressure onopposite sides of the piston assembly.

I PATENTEUJANIZIQYI 3554.220.

SHEETlUFZ INVENTOR.

' JACK W. KICE HERBERT D. VANDERLIP ATTORNEY P T NTEQ JAN 1 2:971 3; 55422 O SHEET 2 DF 2 INVENTOR.

JACK w. KICE BY HERBERT o. VANDERLIP ATTORNEY HIGH VOLUME, RAPID RELEASEDISCHARGE VALVE This application is a continuation-in-part applicationof Ser. No. 730,480, filed on May 20, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,430.

Various types of valve means are known to the prior art operable to movefrom the open to closed conditions with the aid of differential fluidpressure. However, these valve structures are generally slow actuatingtypes and not operable to achieve a positive and rapid movement toimmediately reveal a fluid discharge channel therethrough.Additionally,the prior 7 art devices operable to achieve an immediateoperation to reveal a discharge channel therethrough are of highprecision quality and very expensive to manufacture having numerousmovable parts subject to wear and maintenance and are therefore neitherrealistic in cost nor reliable in operation.

in accordance with the present invention, a rapid release dischargevalve means'is provided operable to move from the closed to the opencondition in a minimum amount of time to fully expose a dischargechannel therethrough. The discharge valve means may be usable innumerous types of systems such as an air filtering system to cleansefiltering bags through the use of high volume, low pressure air or maybe used to actuate aball pitching mechanism as disclosed in thisapplication on reaching a predetermined air pressure thereby settingforth a controlled delay factor. The rapid release, discharge meansincludes a main cast housing means provided with a piston assemblytherein movable transverselyof a fluid conveyance channel to open andclose entrance and exit openings therethrough. The main housing means isprovided with an upright cast member having a vertical openingtherethrough with the upper end enclosed by a cover plate and the lowerend secured to a diaphragm housing structure. The entrance and exitopenings are generally rectangular in shape into the vertical openingand the housing means is provided with laterally extended hub sectionsabout the entrance and exit openings adapted to receive inlet and'outletfluid conduits secured thereto by clamp members. The diaphragm housingmeans includes a base section secured to the lower end of the mainhousing means as by welding extended laterally therefrom and having itsouterfperiphery secured by bolt members to a diaphragm pan member.Mounted between the interconnected pan member and the base section is adiaphragm member having a central portion thereof secured as by a boltmember to the piston assembly. More specifically, the piston assemblyincludes a cup-shaped piston member slidably mounted within the verticalopening having a compression spring member biasing the same in onedirection to a fully closed position extended transversely of theentrance and exit openingsand resting upon an inwardly extended flangeof the main housing means. The piston member is secured to a piston rodas by locknuts having its outer end secured to the central portion ofthe diaphragm member also by locknuts. The piston. member is providedwith an axially extended groove on the outer periphery in cooperatingrelation to the inlet opening whereby fluid pressure moves through thegroove to opposite sides of the piston member. Also the lower end of thepiston rod connected to the diaphragm member is provided with an axiallyextended orifice opening to provide the fluid pressure to both sides ofthe diaphragm member. The upper end of the main cast housing is providedwith an outlet or fluid release opening having a conduit extendedtherefrom which, in turn, is connected to a control valve means operableto release air pressure from one side of the piston member. In

operation, fluid pressure is supplied through the entrance opening toboth sides of the piston member and to both sides of the diaphragmmember through the orifice opening. Dn release of the pressure on oneside of the piston member through the outlet opening, it is seen thatthe resultant high pressure on the other side of the piston member plusthat on the other side of the diaphragm member operates to rapidly movethe piston memberupwardly against the force of the compression spring tothe fully opened condition to allow fluid flow from the inlet conduit tothe outlet conduit through the rectangular openings. t

In another embodiment of this invention, a rapid release discharge valvemeans is provide substantially identical to the aforementioned valvemeans except not having the diaphragm member therein interconnected tothe piston member. This valve means is operable under similar-principlesupon releasing air pressure conveyed to both sides of a piston memberthrough a precision machined leakage factor about the piston member. Thepiston member is movable in a rapid, most effcient manner due to thelarge volume of fluid pressure on one side of the piston member comparedto a small volume of fluid on the other side of the piston member whichis released through a discharge conduit controlled through a controlvalve means to periodically release the same when achieving apredetermined fluid pressure.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new andnovel rapid release discharge valve means overcoming the above-mentioneddisadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rapid release dischargevalve means operable to move'under differential fluid pressure from theclosed to the fully opened condition to rapidly reveal fluid flowchannels therethrough.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a discharge valvemeans operable through axial movement of a piston member connected to adiaphragm member whereupon difi'erential fluid pressure on oppositesides of the diaphragm member operates to rapidly move the piston memberfrom the closed to the fully opened condition in regard to a fluid flowchannel therethrough.

One further object of this invention is to provide a rapid releasedischarge valve means operable to be moved from the closed to the fullyopen condition on movement of a piston member through differentialpressure providing for periodic controlled actuation requiring onlyfluid pressure for operating same.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a rapid releasedischarge valve means that is economical to manufacture, dependable inoperation, simple in construction and usage, substantially maintenancefree, and operable under fluidic pressure so as to be completely safe inexplosive type atmospheres.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from the following descriptiomtakenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rapid release valve means of thisinvention as interconnected betweenastorage tank to control the supplyof fluid pressure to a ball pitch mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the valve-means of thisinvention; I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a rapid release valve means ofthis invention as connected to inlet and outlet conduits; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of another em bodiment ofthe rapid release discharge valve means of this in: vention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specificembodiments of the new rapid release discharge valve means of thisinvention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon thesame reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar partsand/orstructure. It is to be understood that this discussion anddescription is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, therapid release discharge valve of this invention, indicated generally as12, is shown as secured to a reservoir means 14 through an inlet conduit16 and connected by an outlet conduit 18 to a ball pitch mechanism 20.More particularly, the reservoir means 14 includes a main cylindricalupright fluid type storage tank 21 having an inlet pipe 22 connectedtoone side having a control, valve. 24 thereon. The control valve 24 isoperable to regulate the volume of air to enter the storage tank 21 in agiven time period so as to control operation of the rapid releasedischarge valve means 12 as will become apparent. The inlet conduit 16is of a substantial size so as to allow a high volume, low-pressure airflow into the rapid release valve means 12.

The ball pitch mechanism 20 includes a main box housing 27 having alaterally extended actuator arm 28 and an upper control valve means 30connected as by a control conduit 32 to the rapid release valve means12. The control valve means 30 includes an adjusting lever 33 and an airpressure indicator gauge 35. The ball pitch mechanism 20 is operable onreaching a predetermined fluid pressure through the control conduit 32to release the fluid pressure from the rapid release valve means 12which operates to open same and allows a high volume of low-pressurefluid to flow therethrough into the outlet conduit 18 to actuate theball pitch mechanism 20. Although the detailed description of the ballpitch mechanism 20 is not contained in this application, it is obviousthat the actuator arm 28 is movable from the generally horizontalposition of FIG. 1 in a rapid manner to a generally upright position inorder throw a ball member 38 mounted on the actuator arm 28 in a cupportion 39. The control valve means 30 can be regulated through thelever 33 in combination with the control valve 24 on the inlet pipe 22into the storage tank 21 in order to actuate the actuator arm 28 every20 seconds, 30 seconds, or any regulated time period as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of one embodiment of this invention, the rapidrelease discharge valve means 12 includes a cast main housing 41 havingan elongated enlarged vertical opening 43 with one end closed as by abolted cover plate 44 and the opposite end is secured by welding or thelike to a diaphragm housing 46. The cast housing 41 is further providedwith laterally extended connector hub sections 47 and 49 in alignmentwith each other and having the outermost sections provided withcylindrical peripheral surfaces and innermost potions tapered downwardlyto rectangular openings 51 into the vertical opening 43. The alignedconnector hub sections 47 and 49 with the rectangular opening 51 providea fluid flow channel extended transversely of the vertical opening 43for operation thereof as will be explained. The connector hub sections47 and 49 are connected to the inlet conduit 16 and the outlet conduit18, respectively, as by clamp members 53 mounted thereabout.

The discharge valve means 12 further includes a piston assembly 55having one end connected as by an elongated piston rod 56 to a diaphragmmember 58 mounted within the diaphragm housing 46. The piston assembly55 is provided with the piston member 59 having an outer surface insliding engagement with the vertical opening 43 and having a centralbore 61 adapted to receive a compression spring 62 having its upper endin contact with the cover plate 44. Downward movement of the pistonmember 59 under force of the compression spring 62 is limited by aninwardly extended flange 64 of the east main housing 41 extended intothe opening 43. The piston rod 56 is provided with an upper end extendedtransversely of the piston member 59 into the bore 61 having locknuts 63against the upper and lower surfaces of the piston member 59 to anchorthe same thereto. A connector sleeve 65 is mounted on the piston rod 56and formed in two sections to provide for axial adjustment thereof. Thelower end of the piston rod 56 is secured to the center of the diaphragmmember 58 extended through a hole with nut members 67 mounted onopposite sides of the diaphragm member 58 with washers therebetween tosecurely clamp the same thereto. The diaphragm housing 46 includes anupper downwardly diverging base section 69 having its outer lowerperiphery secured as by a plurality of bolt members 71 to a lower panmember 73. It is seen that the outer periphery of the diaphragm member58 is mounted between the interconnected base section 69 and the panmember 73 in a clamped relationship. The lower end of the piston rod 56is provided with an orifice opening 75 extended from the upper to lowersides of the diaphragm member 58 whereupon there is a restricted fluidcommunication to both sides thereof.

The piston member 59 is provided with an upright axially extended groove77 on the outer peripheral surface in communication with the rectangularopening 51 on the inlet conduit 16 for fluid flow from the inlet side tospaces both above and below the piston member 59 for reasons to beexplained. The upper portion of the cast housing 41 of the rapid releasevalve means 12 is provided with an outlet or pressure release opening 79connected as by the control conduit 32 to the control valve means 30 ofthe ball pitch mechanism 20. It is to be understood that reference toupper and lower in regard to the rapid release valve means 12 isrelative to FIG. 3; however, it is obvious that the valve means 12 isoperable in any position whereupon the disclosed position merelyprovides the weight of the piston member 59 in aiding the compressionspring member 62 in biasing the same to the closed position.

In a second embodiment of a rapid release valve indicated generally as83 in FIG. 4, includes a main cast housing 85 having an elongatedenlarged vertical opening 87 with one end closed as by a bolted closureplate 88 and the opposite open end is secured to a reservoir housing 90.The main cast housing 83 is further provided with laterally extended,aligned connector hub sections 91 and 92 having the outermost portionsprovided with cylindrical peripheral surfaces and the inner portionstapered downwardly to rectangular openings 94 meeting the verticalopening 87. The connector hub sections 91 and 92 are connected to theinlet conduit 16 and the outlet conduit 18, respectively, as by clampmembers 53. The valve means 83 further includes a piston assembly 97housing a piston member 98 with an outer peripheral surface in slidingengagement with the vertical opening 87 and a central bore 98 adapted toreceive a compression spring 101 therein having its lower end in contactwith the closure plate 88. Upward movement of the piston member 98 underforce of the compression spring 101 is limited by an inwardly extendingflange portion 102 of the main housing 85. The reservoir housingincludes an upper ball housing member 104 having its lower outerperiphery secured by a plurality of bolt members 106 and a gasket member108 to a lower bowl shaped base connector section 110. It is obviousthat the bell housing 104 is removable so as to reach inner bolt members112 securing the base connector section to the main cast housing 83whereupon the same may be removed for repair and maintenance to replacethe piston member 98 and compression spring 101 as required.

In this embodiment, the piston member 98 is not provided with an axiallyextended groove at its outer edge but the piston member 98 is machinedof a slightly smaller diameter than the vertical opening 87 so as topermit a predetermined, controlled fluid leakage thereabout to bothsides of the piston member 98. The lower portion of the cast housing 85is provided with an outlet opening 114 connected through the controlconduit 32 to the control valve means 30 of the ball pitch mechanism 20.

In the use and operation of the rapid release discharge valve means 12of this invention, it is seen in FIG. 1 that the valve means 12 isconnected to the inlet and outlet conduits 16 and 18 to supply fluidpressure thereto and release the same on achieving a predetermined fluidpressure as preset through the control valve means 30. It is obviousthat the control valve means 30 may be an electrically operated solenoid(not shown) operable to open after a predetermined time period or it maybe a pressure actuated valve member opened on achieving a predeterminedfluid pressure within the control conduit 32. One such type of controlvalve means 30 is set forth in the applicant's copending application,AIR FILTER WITH FLUIDIC TIMING MECHANISM, Ser. No. 730,480, filed May20, 1968.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is obvious that fluid pressure prevailing withinthe storage tank 21 flows through the inlet conduit 16 whereupon thesame is blocked on the cast main housing 41 by the piston member 59which is biased to the closed condition of FIG. 3 by the compressionspring 62. The fluid pressure is movable through the upright, axiallyextended groove 77 in the piston member 59 to, opposite sides thereof.The fluid pressure additionally flows through the opening 79 into thecontrol conduit 32 and the orifice opening 75 in the piston rod 56 toboth sides of the diaphragm member. 58. On reaching a predeterminedpressure or after a preset time period as sensed by the control valvemeans 30 through the control conduit 32, the control conduit 32 isthereupon opened to release the air pressuretherein which transfers theair pressure on the upper side of the piston member 59 to theatmosphere. Thereupon the air pressure on the lower surface of thepiston member 59 operates to move the same rapidly in an upwardlydirection against the biasing force of the 'compression spring 62. Afterthe initial movement to expose a portion ofv the rectangular openings 51in the cast main housing 41, it is obvious that the fluid on the uppersurface of the diaphragm member 58 is thereupon released however, thefluid pressure is maintained on the lower surface of the diaphragmmember 58 due to the restriction of the orifice opening 75..Thisfluidpressure thereupon acts to push the interconnected piston assembly55 upwardly whereupon the same may bottom out-against the cover plate44. This provides for a rapid, upward movement of the-piston member 59to instantly reveal the rectangular opening 51 therethrough to providefor the immediate rapid discharge of the air pressure from the storagetank 21 into the outlet conduit 18. This high volume, low-pressure armis thereupon operable by various structural devices within the ballpitch mechanism 20v to pivot the actuator arm 28 rapidly and upwardlyabout a connector shaft 115 to throw the ball '38 to a desired position,namely, a person poised as a baseball batter. It is obvious that thecontrol valve means'30 and inlet control valve 24 may be regulated so asto be operable on achieving apredetermine fluid pressure such as p.s.i.to open the valve means 12 and operate the actuator arm 28. The controlvalve 24 may be regulated to control the volume of air moving into thestorage tank 21 so that the period of operation can be readilyregulated.

The other rapid release valve means 83 is operable in a manner similarto the aforementioned description of operation of the valve means 12 theprimary difference is the lack of a diaphragm member within the bellhousing 104 operably connected to the piston assembly 97. The valvemeans 83 is operable by pressure being supplied to both sides of thepiston member 98 thereby, creating an equilibrium condition with a rapidrelease of pressure through the control conduit 32 causing a rapiddownward movement of the piston member 98 to quickly open the outletconduit '18 to the inlet conduit 16. It has been found that with thelarge bell housing 104,- sufficient air volume in this cavity produces arapid downward movement of the piston member 98 whereupon the sameactually bottoms out on the upper surface of the closure plate 88 in amost efficient manner. Additionally, the weight of the piston member 98operates against the force of the compression ,spring 101 toadditionally aid in the rapid downward moveequalize pressure on bothsides of the piston member 98, and,

additionally, the amount of clearance operates to control the volume ofair moving upwardly into the upper bell housing 104 and through thecontrol conduit 32 so as tobe important in controlling the time sequenceof operation.

shown in FIG. 4 as this provides a refinement thereof for adjustablecontrol and speed of operation and resultant force in lifting the pistonmember. It is obvious that the rapid release valve means of thisinvention can be operated in the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 orinverted therefrom. It is noted that the building up of air pressurewithin the reservoir tank, which can be regulated, operates as a timingmechanism in conjunction .with the setting of the .control valve meanson the ball pitch mechanism.

It will be apparent-from the foregoing description of preferred specificembodiments that the applicants new and novelrapid release valve meansprovides a relatively same structure readilyattachable to conventionalinlet and outlet fluid conduits so as to provide an efficient. low costeffective means of automatic and sequential release of high volume,low-pressure air. The applicants construction provides a very desirablestructure for use in an explosive type atmosphere whereupon a fluidmedium alone is used to sequentially time and operate operate the same.

While the invention has been described'in conjunction with preferredspecific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that thisdescription is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A valve means connectable between inlet and outlet conduits operableto control fluid flow therethrough, comprising:

a. housing means having a fluid flow channel therethrough incommunication with said inlet and outlet conduits, said housing meanshaving an opening extended transversely of said fluid flow channel;

b. a piston assembly having a piston. member mounted within said openingextended transversely of said fluid flow channel in the closed positionto prevent fluid flow from said inlet conduit to said outlet conduit,said piston member having means controlling fluid leakage to both sidesthereof so as to achieve equal fluid pressure thereacross when in theclosed condition;

c. said housing means having a main housing and a diaphragm housingsecured to said main housing, said I diaphragm housing having adiaphragm member mounted therein and connected to said piston member andoperable to rapidly move the same on release of pressure from one sideof said piston member;

d. said housing means having a discharge opening on one side of saidpistonassembly; and

e. control means connected to said discharge opening operable toselectively open same to release fluid pressure from one side of saidpiston assembly to rapidly move same under fluid pressure to the opencondition.

2. A valve means as described in claim 1, wherein:

a. said piston assembly including an elongated piston rod member havingone end secured to said piston member and the opposite end thereofsecured to said diaphragm member; and said piston rod member having anorifice opening in the end connected to said diaphragm member wherebyfluid pressure 'is passed to both sides of said diaphragm member to aidin actuating same from the closed to open condition.

3. A valve means as described in claim 2, wherein: said piston rodmember having segments interconnected by a It is seen that the rapidrelease valve means of this invention v sleeve member whereby saidpiston rod member is readily adprovides a new andnovel means for rapidlyreleasing a high fective manner for numerous operations. It has beenfound that the use of a high volume low-pressure air rather than theconventional usage of a low volume, high-pressure air is most desirableinnumerous operations such as cleansing filtering bags and the likewhere the high-pressure air contains moisture and impurities whichcontaminate the filtering bag structures. The rapid release valve meansof this invention is readily operable without the use of thediaphragm-member as I volume, low-pressure fluid medium in a mostefficient and efsides of said diaphragm'member whereby fluids applied toboth sides of said piston member is additionally fed through saidorifice opening so as to be equalized on both sides of said diaphragmmember;

d. said housing means having a discharge opening on the side opposite ofsaid piston member relative to said diaphragm member whereby release offluid pressure on said one side of piston member operates to permit thefluid pressure on the opposite side of said piston member to move thesame upwardly at a rapid pace; and

e. said orifice opening permitting the fluid pressure to be equalized tothe isolated side of said diaphragm member whereby, on release ofpressure through said discharge opening on the other side of said pistonmember, the fluid pressure below said diaphragm member operates to movethe same upwardly in a rapid pace against said piston member for openingsaid fluid flow channel.

5. Valve means as described in claim 1, wherein: said housing means hasa main housing with inlet and outlet hub 86- tions secured to the inletconduit and the outlet conduit, said hub sections having an outermostportion of cylindrical shape in transverse cross section with theinnermost portion tapered inwardly to form a rectangular opening in saidhousing means leading into said opening whereby the minimum axialmovement of said piston member reveals a maximum discharge area fromsaid inlet conduit to said outlet conduit providing for the mostefficient rapid release of high volume, lQwp1jesure fluid therethrough.

6. A valve means connectable between inlet and outlet conduits operableto control fluid flow therethrough, comprising:

a. housing means having a fluid flow channel therethrough incommunication with said inlet and outlet conduits, said housing meanshaving an opening extended transversely of said fluid flow channel; apiston assembly mounted within said opening extended transversely ofsaid fluid flow channel in the closed position to prevent fluid flowfrom said inlet conduit to said outlet conduit, said piston assemblyhaving means controlling fluid leakage to both sides thereof so as toachieve equal fluid pressure thereacross when in closed condition, andincluding a piston member of a generally cuppedshape having its outersurface in sliding engagement with said opening in said housing and asaid piston member having a central enlarged bore portion to receive acompression spring therein with the opposite end portion of saidcompression spring mounted against cover means closing one end of saidopening to bias said piston member to the closed position;

c. said housing means having inwardly extending means adapted to receivesaid piston member thereagainst in the closed condition to restrictaxial movement of said piston member in one direction, and having adischarge opening on one side of said piston assembly; and

d. control means connected to said discharge opening operable toselectively open same to release fluid pressure from one side of saidpiston assembly to rapidly move same under fluid pressure to the opencondition.

7. A valve means connectable between inlet and outlet conduits operableto control fluid flow therethrough, comprising:

a. housing means having a fluid flow channel therethrough incommunication with said inlet and outlet conduits, said housing meanshaving an opening extended transversely of said fluid flow channel;

b. a piston assembly having a piston member mounted within said openingextended transversely of said fluid flow channel in the closed positionto seal and prevent fluid flow from said inlet conduit to said outletconduit, said piston member having means controlling fluid leakage aboutthe exterior of said piston member and to both sides thereof so as toachieve equal fluid pressure thereacross when in the closed condition,said piston assembly having means biasing said piston member into aclosed position transverse said fluid flow channel; 0. said housingmeans having a discharge opening on one side of said piston assembly;and d. control means connected to said discharge opening operable toselectively open same to release fluid pressure from one side of saidpiston assembly to rapidly move same under fluid pressure to the opencondition. 8. A valve means as described in claim 7, wherein: said meansbiasing said piston member is a spring extended transversely of saidflow channel and acting in compression.

1. A valve means connectable between inlet and outlet conduits operableto control fluid flow therethrough, comprising: a. housing means havinga fluid flow channel therethrough in communication with said inlet andoutlet conduits, said housing means having an opening extendedtransversely of said fluid flow channel; b. a piston assembly having apiston member mounted within said opening extended transversely of saidfluid flow channel in the closed position to prevent fluid flow fromsaid inlet conduit to said outlet conduit, said piston member havingmeans controlling fluid leakage to both sides thereof so as to achieveequal fluid pressure thereacross when in the closed condition; c. saidhousing means having a main housing and a diaphragm housing secured tosaid main housing, said diaphragm housing having a diaphragm membermounted therein and connected to said piston member and operable torapidly move the same on release of pressure from one side of saidpiston member; d. said housing means having a discharge opening on oneside of said piston assembly; and e. control means connected to saiddischarge opening operable to selectively open same to release fluidpressure from one side of said piston assembly to rapidly move sameunder fluid pressure to the open condition.
 2. A valve means asdescribed in claim 1, wherein: a. said piston assembly including anelongated piston rod member having one end secured to said piston memberand the opposite end thereof secured to said diaphragm member; and b.said piston rod member having an orifice opening in the end connected tosaid diaphragm member whereby fluid pressure is passed to both sides ofsaid diaphragm member to aid in actuating same from the closed to opencondition.
 3. A valve means as described in claim 2, wherein: saidpiston rod member having segments interconnected by a sleeve memberwhereby said piston rod member is readily adjustable in length tocontrol the axial movements of said piston member.
 4. A valve means asdescribed in claim 1, wherein: a. said housing means having saiddiaphragm member mounted therein between a base section and a panmember; b. said piston member slidable mounted in said opening and apiston rod member secured to one end thereof; c. said piston rod membersecured to said diaphragm member having an orifice opening therethroughto both sides of said diaphragm member whereby fluids applied to bothsides of said piston member is additionally fed through said orificeopening so as to be equalized on both sides of said diaphragm member; d.said housing means having a discharge opening on the side opposite ofsaid piston member relative to said diaphragm member whereby release offluid pressure on said one side of piston member operates to permit thefluid pressure on the opposite side of said piston member to move thesame upwardly at a rapid pace; and e. said orifice opening permittingthe fluid pressure to be equalized to the isolated side of saiddiaphragm member whereby, on release of pressure through said dischargeopening on the other side of said piston member, the fluid pressurebelow said diaphragm member operates to move the same upwardly in arapid pace against said piston member for opening said fluid flowchannel.
 5. Valve means as described in claim 1, wherein: said housingmeans has a main housing with inlet and outlet hub sections secured tothe inlet conduit and the outlet conduit, said hub sections having anoutermost portion of cylindrical shape in transverse cross section withthe innermost portion tapered inwardly to form a rectangular opening insaid housing means leading into said opening whereby the minimum axialmovement of said piston member reveals a maximum discharge area fromsaid inlet conduit to said outlet conduit providing for the mostefficient rapid release of high volume, low-pressure fluid therethrough.6. A valve means connectable between inlet and outlet conduits operableto control fluid flow therethrough, comprising: a. housing means havinga fluid flow channel therethrough in communication with said inlet andoutlet conduits, said housing means having an opening extendedtransversely of said fluid flow channel; b. a piston assembly mountedwithin said opening extended transversely of said fluid flow channel inthe closed position to prevent fluid flow from said inlet conduit tosaid outlet conduit, said piston assembly having means controlling fluidleakage to both sides thereof so as to achieve equal fluid pressurethereacross when in closed condition, and including a piston member of agenerally cupped-shape having its outer surface in sliding engagementwith said opening in said housing and a said piston member having acentral enlarged bore portion to receive a compression spring thereinwith the opposite end portion of said compression spring mounted againstcover means closing one end of said opening to bias said piston memberto the closed position; c. said housing means having inwardly extendingmeans adapted to receive said piston member thereagainst in the closedcondition to restrict axial movement of said piston member in onedirection, and having a discharge opening on one side of said pistonassembly; and d. control means connected to said discharge openingoperable to selectively open same to release fluid pressure from oneside of said piston assembly to rapidly move same under fluid pressureto the open condition.
 7. A valve means connectable between inlet andoutlet conduits operable to control fluid flow therethrough, comprising:a. housing means having a fluid flow channel therethrough incommunication with said inlet and outlet conduits, said housing meanshaving an opening extended transversely of said fluid flow channel; b. apiston assembly having a piston member mounted within said openingextended transversely of said fluid flow channel in the closed positionto seal and prevent fluid flow from said inlet conduit to said outletconduit, said piston member having means controlling fluid leakage aboutthe exterior of said piston member and to both sides thereof so as toachieve equal fluid pressure thereacross when in the closed condition,said piston assembly having means biasing said piston member into aclosed position transverse said fluid flow channel; c. said housingmeans having a discharge opening on one side of said piston assembly;and d. control means connected to said discharge opening operable toselectively open same to release fluid pressure from one side of saidpiston assembly to rapidly move same under fluid pressure to the opencondition.
 8. A valve means as described in claim 7, wherein: said meansbiasing said piston member is a spring extended transversely of saidflow channel and acting in compression.